About us

The Silai Centre

In August 2013, SPAN joined together with another Bristol based charity – Silai for Skills – and took over the management of the Silai Building which was renamed as 'The Silai Centre'.

Silai means sewing in Urdu and upholds the heritage of the Silai Project, which started as a sewing project for Asian women that were isolated and disadvantaged. Silai developed in to a thriving community learning and enterprise project supporting women of diverse backgrounds. They specialised in sewing and upholstery and this area of work has continued inside The Silai Centre.

The Silai Centre is now SPAN's headquarters as well as a fantastic community resource in inner-city Bristol. At the Silai Centre, SPAN offers the following services to the local community:

Adult learning opportunities

A family friendly and affordable community café

Early years services

Family support services

Sewing & upholstery workshops

Hair & beauty salon

Room hire

Volunteering & work experience opportunities

The Silai Centre is also the home of:

The Brigstow Project

LinkAge Bristol

Young Mother's Group Trust

Money, debt & benefit advice sessions run by St Paul's Advice Centre

1:1 career service appointments run by the National Career Service

Monthly legal advice sessions for single parents run by Simpson and Miller Solicitors